Work support for automatic lathes



I Dec. 6, 1949 J. FURLIN 2,490,516

WORK SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC LATHES Filed March 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN FURLIN ATTO RN EY Dec. 6, 1949 I J. FURLIN WORK SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC LATHES Filed March 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN FuRuN ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6 1949 U NI TED :S TATES ATENT. QFFHJE 2,490,516 W'ORKSU'PPORT FOR AUroMATrc'LnTn-Es fi'ohn .Furlin, New .Yor-k,.N. Application March 4, 1943, Serial No. "12,947

l lcla'ims. '1

This invention relates to work supports for automatic lathes-more particularly to work rests, sometimes known as "steady-rests for supporting the stock being worked, whether Wood, metal or other material, while it is being operatively rotated by the lathe.

It is a primary requirement in automatic 'lathes of the category above referred to that the .apparatus be provided "with a setting and adjusting mechanism'whereby each successivepiece of work will be accurately'positioned with respect to the cutting tools, so as to produce uniform products. However, it is commonlyknown that frequent adjustments must be made after the initial setting, due to constantly occurring displacement of parts on account of Vibration. Such resetting operations .are time-consuming and costly, and are particularly undesirable in mass production .operations. It is accordingly primarily within the contemplation of my-invention to proyidea device capable of readily setting the work in .an automatic lathe, and maintaining such setting for all successive pieces of work requiring identical operations.

In the above-mentioned aspect of my 'mvention, it is a further object to provide combination setting and supporting means .for the work, provided with a resilient arrangement capable of absorbing the operative vibration of the machine, yet firmly holding the rotating work against the action of the cutting tools.

Many automatic lathes are provided with setting and adjusting .elements intended to provide uniform setting of the work, but thesaidelements are generally so arranged as to require a long travel between initial and final adjusting positions. This not only renders it cumbersome to operate such machines, frequently requiring several steps, but also results in amplified displacement of the adjusting or setting elements at the end of their long path of travel, causing variations in the finished product and accordingly requiring frequent adjustments. It is accordingly another important objective of my invention to provide a device wherein the adjusting elements have a short path of travel, thereby eliminating the shortcomings above-mentioned. And in this aspect of my inventien it is another object to enable the setting operation to be performed with a minimum of effort, whereby there will be an economy of operation Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings:

lFig-nre & 'is a plan view of an automatic lathe showing three supports or steady re's'ts according to my invention operativel-yin position.

l igure 2 isanlend view-of Fig. 1 looking at the right end 'of the-device;

Figure 3 is 'a tragmentary section 'of Fig. -1 talken'along line 3:8;

Figure -4 is a fraginen tary perspective or the steady rest eenstitating "my invent-ion, showing the forward portion thereof lfi i'gure 5 is a side elevation or the device in 4 shown 'operatively supporting 'a revolving piece 'of'work (representedbydot-dash *lines) the cam -member of the device being also shown in a retracted pos'ition b y dot-dash lines.

Figure 6 is a view like Fig. 5, showing the relative position 'of the rest and the work after the latter has been-cut to-size.

Figure 7 is a-top view of Fig. '6.

Figure 8 *is' a rragmentary side view like Fig. '5 showing the rocker frame elevated above the cam 'meniber "just as the work engages the prdtrud= ing shelf and before the cam has dropped, and

Figure 9 is a view like Fig. -8, showing "the rocker name unsupported by the cam, and in rocking position, the 'ddtfda sh "lines showing another operative position thereof.

The referred form of my invention illustrated in the drawings is'primai'i-ly adapted for use with an automatic wood lathe, although the invention is not limited to such a specific structure. In Figs. 1 to 3, the base support I'll is shown supporting the two bearings H and l2, these bear ings rotativelysupporting opposite shafts 13 carrying the hexagonal tool sup'porting spindle M;

This -spindle, which is a conventional device well known in the art, contains a plurality of T slo'ts F5 each being-adapted to receive the head and shank of a bolt "It in threaded engagement with the nut l'l extending through the bracket 18 holding a cutting tool or knife 19 in place. Each one of the brackets 1%, bearing a suitably designed knife or tool, is placed and secured in a predetermined position within one of the slots on one of the faces of the spindle, in accordance with the predetermined setting for producing the desired contour or shape or the work 2D.

The said workfZll is plac'ed, in known manner, between the dead .center spindle 2.4 and the live center spindle 22, the said spindles being operatively' supported by the bearings '23 and 24, respectively; Live center spindle '22 has keyed thereto the geared wheel '25 which is driven by the worm 26 connected to a source of power not shown. The said spindle l4, and the said shafts l3, are operatively connected to pulley 2| driven by belt 28 from a source of power also not shown. In the operation of this device, the spindle I4 is generally constantly revolving at a very high speed such as 4060 R. P. M.the work 20 revolving at a speed in accordance with the requirements of the specific job. The said bearings 23 and 25 are integral with brackets 29 and 30 respectively, these being mounted on table 3| and being slidably supported within the slots 32 thereof by means or the bolts 33 and nuts 34. The particular positions of said brackets 29 and 36 on table 3i are determined by the length of the stock Also supported on said table 3| are the three supports or steady rests 35, 36 and 31, according to my invention, these being secured to said table by bolt 38 (Figs. and 6) extending into slots 32.

When the parts of this entire apparatus are in their proper operative positions, shelf 39 (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) of each of the rests 35, 36 and 3| is in underlying engagement with the work 18, as will more clearly hereinafter appear. To bring the rests 35, 35 and 37 to and from this operative position, the arm in is pivotally rotated about the axis 4| on lug 52 extending from base support l0. When the feed lever 43 is moved downwardly it will move arm 44 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby causing a corresponding counterclockwise movement of link 45 about pivot 46 and since pivotal portions 46 and 41 (the latter at the inner end of lever 43) are at separated points, the said movement of the lever will cause a general upward movement of arm 44 and a counterclockwise movement of arm 43. This will produce a retraction of table 3| and all the parts carried thereby. An opposite movement of lever 43 will cause a clockwise rotation of table 3| and a movement thereof into operative position, the foremost position being when the adjustable stop bolt 30a. comes into abutment with the bearing frame l2. The arrangement of lever 43 and the associated links and arms is well known in the art, and is merely described here to facilitate the understanding of this invention. It is also a conventional practice to employ a table similar to table 3| connected to a clutch mechanism associated with the drive for the live spindle 22, so that as the table 2| approaches the work (moving in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2), the clutch will gradually engage and produce first a slow rotation of spindle 22, the speed increasing gradually as the table moves inwardly. This construction is not here illustrated, since it does not constitute any part of this invention, and is well known in the art.

Referring specifically to the structure of the support or steady rest constituting my invention, the base 48 thereof is mounted, as aforesaid, on the table 3|. At the forward portion of said base is the guide support 49 containing in the lateral sides thereof the channnels 56 and 5| for supporting therein the bifurcated uprights 52 and 53 respectively, said guide support containing in the upper portion thereof a hole through which the bolt 54 extends, the shank of said bolt extending through the slot 55 in each of said bifurcated uprights, whereby said uprights can be adjustably positioned with respect to guide support 49 by operatively manipulating and tightening the said bolt 54 and associated parts, in known manner. The upper portions of the said uprights 52 and 53 pivotally support the rocker frame 56, the pivotal support comprising a bolt, nut and washer assembly 51. The rear of said rocker frame contains four slotted pegs or spring anchors 58, 59, 66 and (ii, the slots 62 in each of said pegs being adapted to receive the spring 63 therein, said spring being shown wound around the support 64, the upper portion of said spring bearing against the extended portion of the bolt of the said assembly 51. The spring arrangement is hence such that arms 65 and 66 of the spring 63 bear downwardly. The said arm 66 of the spring is adapted to be selectively inserted in any of the slots 62 of the said pins, as will more clearly hereinafter appear. Adjustably secured to the rocker frame 55 by the bolts 61 is the bar 68, the forward end of which contains the said shelf 39. The connection, as clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, is from the upper portion of frame 55 to the longitudinally slotted portion 69 thereof, whereby the said bar 68 could be forwardly and rearwardly adjustably positioned relative to the frame 56.

The rear of said guide support 49 contains the slot 10 therein; and slidably supported within said slot is the bifurcated bracket 1|, said bracket being supported within the guide support 39 by the bolt 12 extending through the slot 13 within said guide support. Pivotally connected at 14, within the bifurcated portion of said bracket 1|, is the retractable rocker holding member, in the form of cam 15 containing an upper arcuate cam surface 16 in supporting engagement with the underside ll of the said bar 68. The rear portion of cam member 15 has attached thereto the lever 18 pivotally mounted at 19 on the bifurcated bracket H, said lever having a slot slidably accommodating the shank of bolt 8| constituting the pivotal connection between the lever 18 and said cam member 15. The rear of the device contains a post 82 with a slot 83 therein through which extends the adjustable stop member 8-! upon which the said lever 18 is adapted to rest in its predetermined lowermost position. The said stop contains a threaded portion 85 with which the nut 86 is engageable, said nut and washer serving to hold the stop 84 in predetermined position within the slot 83. The forward portion of the cam member 15 contains a V- shaped recessed portion 88 adapted to accommodate the rear portion 89 of the member 39 when the cam member 75 is in its forward position, as indicated in Fig. 5. It is thus apparent that the rocker holding cam i5 is movable between two limiting positions, its forward or projected position when the surface 16 is in engagement with the rocker frame, and its retracted position when the lever is in engagement with the stop 85.

In operatively employing this device in conjunction with an automatic wood turning lathe as illustrated, the table 3| is first retracted rearwardly by operating the lever 43, in the manner aforesaidworm 26 being automatically disconnected from the drive mechanism when the said arm 40 is in said retracted position. The work 20 is then set into position between the live and dead centers 22 and 2|, respectively, above the said shelves 39 of the three supports 35, 36 and 3?. To effect such a positioning, the lever 18 is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the cam surface 16 will pivotally elevate the bar 68, causing the entire frame 56 to rotate in counterclockwise direction about its pivot at 51 against the action of spring arm 6'3. The point of contact 90 on cam surface 16 is substantially in vertical line with the pivotal center 14 between the spring supporting pegs QildqSflldjDlWOt 7.4; and this fact together with the .frictional nature of surface 1.6 will cause the parts 'to remain in said tilted position until releasedin ithemanher to behereinafter set forth.

Figure 5 showsby dot-sdashl-lines 20a the shape of the work in its raw or initialstate, whereas the .circle 20b represents :the predetermined finished form of the stock. The parts are adjusted {so that in the initial position shown in Fig.5 the edge 9|, representing thedistanceof the thickest part of the stock from the .center, will engage surface teagainst the action of spring 66. Bar .68.is adjusted horizontally so that the tip 92 will protrude from the forward edge 93 of frame 56 a predetermined distance .less than :the predetermined diameter of the finished stock so that the path of travel 941(Fig. 6) of the knives will :at ;all times clear said tip .92. .It-is also preferred that the protruding portion 95 ,of the shelf is wedgeshaped, having its underside 96 beveled rearwardly and downwardly, as clearlyshown in the draw- ,ings.

.the stop 86, reaching the retracted position shown by dot-dash lines in Fig. .5, and also as shown in Fig. 9. ,In this position, it will be notedthat the bar 68 is entirely free from the cam member 15, and the entire rocker frame 5] isurged, against the yieldableaction of spring arm 66, in a counterclockwise direction by the rotation of the stock 20. In other words, portions of the stock like 9|, and other portions representingstock in excess of .the predetermined finished diameter, will during .the rotation of piece 23 cause a rocking movement of frame 53. Theextent of this rocking,-0r the amplitude of the oscillation, will obviously depend upon the amount of stock in said piece 20. As the knives do their work, the amount of stock will be reduced until finally the .rocking will cease,

since there will be no further stock to engage shelf 39. In this position, in accordance with the predetermined setting, the bar 68 will come to rest upon the cam surface 16 of the cam member where it is in its retracted position, shown in Fig. 6. Here the said shelf 39 will be substantially horizontal. When the rocking action ceases, it is a signal that the turning piece has been cut to the proper size by the various tools, and the lever 43 is then properly manipulated to cause a retraction of the table 3|, and a removal of the turned piece, and its replacement of a new piece of stock.

In the preferred method of operating this device, the two side supports 35 and 31 are employed for setting the stock-that is, support 36 is (in the initial setting of the device) not in position, only supports 35 and 31 being used in the setting operation. When the setting has been completed, the central support 36 is then placed in position. Since supports 35 and 31 are used mere- 1y for setting purposes, the spring action thereon should be light. But the central support 36 is the main support, taking most of the load, therefore the spring action thereon should be heavy. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be obvious that when the spring :arm -66 is. in spoof :the upper pegs, the spring action is stronger than :it would be if it were .withinone of gthelower pegs. Accordingly it ,is preferred .that spring arm 66 .--be placed in peg 59 .or'5.8 for central support :36, whereas for .the side supports .35 and 3;! the spring arm 66 should be placed either inpegn'ifi or 6 I.

It should further be 'noted .in .the operation of this device that when the .shelf 39 is in its oneratively tilted position as shown in Fig. '5, it will .exertuponathe work an upward and forward pres- .sure, since there is-an upwardand forward component .of its yieldable force, in the direction of the knives. However, when the bar 68 reaches its final horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 6, there is noifurther upward component, and hence there would be nofurther .urging of the work towards the-knives when thestock'has :been cut to its predetermined size. In this position, there is accordingly no cutting, and therefore no danger that .more than the predetermined amount of stock will be removed.

It is apparent that'once the setting is effectuated for a particular job, no further resetting operations need be-done upon its-completion except the simple manipulation-of lever 43. And since --the path of movementof the elements of the support is relatively short, the danger of cumula- .tive displacement is less than in the case of long .paths of travel wherea slight initialdisplacement ismagnified considerably at the termination of the movement. And it is further apparent that .the device provides not only a convenient means of setting the work, but also a firm yet shockabsorbing sup-port therefor during its operative rotation-as well as an urging of the work towards the .tools, the reduction or entire eliminationof flexing .at the center .due to centrifugal force, and the discontinuance of such urging ac- .tion when the predetermined diameter has been reached. The adjustments for setting the device are readily effected by manipulating adjusting screw elements that can be readily locked into place by conventional and well known locking devices.

.In the abovedescription, the invention has been disclosed merely by --.Way of example and in preferredmannerpbut obviouslymany variations and modifications maybe made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be under- .Stood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specificform or manner of practicing same, exceptinsofar as such limitationsare specified in the appended claims.

1. In a work support for automatic lathes, a pivotally mounted rocker frame, a shelf protruding forwardly therefrom and adapted for underlying engagement with the work on the lathe, spring means yieldably urging the frame forwardly, and a retractable frame-holding member movable between two predetermined limiting positions, saidmember being engageable with the rocker frame when in one of said limiting positions to hold the frame with its shelf in a predetermined initial position against the action of said spring means, said frame-holding member bein out of engagement with the frame when in its other of said two limiting positions, said frame-holding member consisting of a pivotally mounted cam, the frame-engaging surface of which is substantially arcuate.

2. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 1, the pivotal mounting of said cam being substantially vertically below the contacting portions of the said cam surface and the frame.

3. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 1, said frameholding member consisting of a pivotally mounted cam, the frame-engaging surface of which is substantially arcuate, said two limiting positions being predetermined projected and retracted positions, further provided with a handle attached to and projecting rearwardly from said cam, whereby the weight of said projecting portion of the handle will actuate said cam downwardly towards its said predetermined retracted position.

4. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 1, a support on which said frame is pivotally mounted, the pivotal point of the rocker frame being adjacent the forward portion thereof, the rear portion of frame containing a plurality of spaced spring anchors, one portion of said spring means being anchored to said support, another portion being selectively engageable with one of said anchors, whereby different operative spring pressures upon the holding member may be selectively applied.

5. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 1, further provided With a support on which said frame is pivotally mounted, a plurality of spaced spring anchors on said rocker frame, one portion of said spring means being anchored to said support, another portion being selectively engageable with one of said anchors, whereby difierent operative spring pressures upon the holding member may be selectively applied.

6. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 1, said frameholding member consisting of a pivotally mounted cam, the frame-engaging surface of which is substantially arcuate, further provided with a vertically adjustable support for the pivotal mounting of the said cam.

7. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 1, said two limiting positions being predetermined projected and retracted positions, further provided with a handle attached to and projecting rearwardly from said cam, whereby the weight of said projecting portion of the handle will actuate said cam downwardly towards its said predetermined retracted position, and a vertically adjustable stop with which said handle is engageable in the said retracted position of the cam.

8. In a work support for automatic lathes, a pivotally mounted rocker frame comprising an upper body portion and a bar releasably secured to the base thereof and adjustably movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to said body portion, said bar protruding forwardly from the said body portion to provide a shelf adapted for underlying engagement with the Work on the lathe, the front of said shelf being substantially wedge shaped, a vertically adjustable upright support for the pivotal mounting of the frame, a spring attached to the said upright support and in engagement with the frame to yieldably urge it forwardly, a pivotally mounted cam movable between predetermined projected and retracted positions, said cam having a substantially arcuate surface engageable with the underside of said bar when the cam is in its said projected position' to hold the frame against the action of said spring with said shelf in a predetermined inclined initial position, said cam surface being out of engagement with the said bar when the cam is in its said retracted position.

9. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 8, further provided with a vertically adjustable support for the pivotal mounting of the said cam, a handle attached to the cam and pivotally mounted on the last-mentioned adjustable support.

10. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 9, said handle projecting rearwardly from the cam, whereby the weight of said projecting portion of the handle will actuate said cam downwardly towards its said predetermined retracted position.

11. In a work support for automatic lathes, the combination according to claim 10, further provided with a rear vertical slotted member adjustably supporting therein a stop with which said handle is engageable in the said retracted position of the cam.

JOI-lIN FURLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 470,229 White Mar. 8, 1892 697,853 Landis Apr. 15, 1902 732,314 Norton June 30, 1903 771,979 Landis Sept. 27, 1904 1,119,031 Norton Dec. 1, 1914 1,961,091 Smith May 29, 1934 

